Accused of Perjury at Military Court and National Assembly
Admitted to "VIP Rage Rumor" During Warrant Hearing on the 22nd
On July 22, the arrest warrant requested by the special investigation team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating the death of Private Chae, against former Marine Corps Commander Kim Kyewhan on charges of perjury related to the case, was dismissed.
Former Marine Corps Commander Kim Kyewhan heading to the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 22nd for a pre-arrest detention hearing. Photo by Yonhap News
Nam Sejin, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the warrant after a pre-arrest detention hearing for Kim on the same day. The judge stated, "Considering the suspect's career, residence and family relationships, attendance during the investigation process, and attitude during questioning, it is difficult to recognize a risk of flight," thereby rejecting the warrant requested by the special investigation team.
The judge further explained, "Based on the evidence secured so far, the progress of the investigation, and the suspect's current status, it is also difficult to conclude at this stage that there is a risk of evidence destruction beyond the exercise of the right to defense."
Kim Kyewhan is suspected of perjury while testifying as a witness at the military court and the National Assembly. The charges applied by the special investigation team in the warrant request are aggravated perjury and violation of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly.
At the time of Private Chae's death in 2023, Kim was the highest-ranking commander in the Marine Corps. He is suspected of being involved in the process in which pressure from higher authorities was exerted on Colonel Park Junghoon, then head of the Marine Corps investigation team, who conducted the initial investigation into the Chae case. It is reported that Kim conveyed to Colonel Park the so-called "VIP rage rumor," which claimed that former President Yoon Sukyeol became furious after receiving the initial investigation results.
Kim has consistently maintained that he never conveyed such information to Colonel Park. However, for the first time during the pre-arrest detention hearing on this day, he admitted in court that he had heard the "VIP rage rumor."
During the detention review held on the same day, Kim's legal team reportedly emphasized that there was no risk of flight or evidence destruction, and claimed that the special investigation team conducted the investigation unlawfully, including infringing on Kim's right to rest during questioning.
Since its official launch on July 2, the special investigation team has focused on clarifying the "VIP rage rumor," which was the starting point for suspicions of external pressure on the investigation. The team is expected to closely review the court's reasons for dismissing Kim's warrant before deciding whether to request another warrant.
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